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George Devol
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George Devol
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George Charles Devol Jr. (February 20, 1912 – August 11, 2011) was an American inventor, best known for creating Unimate, the first industrial robot.[1][2] The National Inventors Hall of Fame says, "Devol's patent for the first digitally operated programmable robotic arm represents the foundation of the modern robotics industry."[3]

Key Information

Early life

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George Devol was born in an upper-middle-class family in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Riordan Prep school.[1]

United Cinephone

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Phantom Doorman automatic door

Foregoing higher education, Devol went into business in 1932, forming United Cinephone to produce variable area recording directly onto film for the new sound motion pictures ("talkies"). However, he later learned that companies like RCA and Western Electric were working in the same area, and discontinued the product.[1]

World War II

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In 1939, Devol applied for a patent for proximity controls for use in laundry press machines, based on a radio frequency field.[4] This control would automatically open and close laundry presses when workers approached the machines. After World War II began, the patent office told Devol that his patent application would be placed on hold for the duration of the conflict.[5]

Around that time, Devol sold his interest in United Cinephone and approached Sperry Gyroscope to pitch his ideas on radar technology. He was retained by Sperry as manager of the Special Projects Department, which developed radar devices and microwave test equipment.[1]

In 1943, he organized General Electronics Industries in Greenwich, Connecticut,[1] as a subsidiary of the Auto Ordnance Corporation. General Electronics produced counter-radar devices until the end of the war. General Electronics was one of the largest producers of radar and radar counter-measure equipment for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Air Force and other government agencies. The company's radar counter-measure systems were on Allied planes on D-Day.[5]

Over a difference of opinion regarding the future of certain projects, Devol resigned from Auto Ordinance and joined RCA. After a short stint as eastern sales manager of electronics products, which he felt "wasn't his ball of wax", Devol left RCA to develop ideas that eventually led to the patent application for the first industrial robot. In 1946, he applied for a patent on a magnetic recording system for controlling machines and a digital playback device for machines.[5]

Devol was part of the team that developed the first commercial use of microwave oven technology, the Speedy Weeny,[6] which automatically cooked and dispensed hotdogs in places such as Grand Central Terminal.

In the early 1950s, Devol licensed his digital magnetic recording device to Remington Rand of Norwalk, Connecticut, and became manager of their magnetics department. There he worked with a team to develop his magnetic recording system for business data applications. He also worked on developing the first high-speed printing systems. While the magnetic recording system proved too slow for business data, Devol's invention was re-purposed as a machine control that would eventually become the "brains" of the Unimate robot.[5]

The first industrial robot: Unimate

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Main article: Unimate
The first static magnetic recorder that used a saw blade to record information

In the 1940s, Devol was focusing on manipulators and his magnetic recording patents, but he took note of the introduction of automation into factories. In 1954, he applied for his robotics patent. U.S. patent 2,988,237, issued in 1961 for Programmed Article Transfer,[1] introduced the concept of universal automation, or Unimation. His wife Evelyn suggested the word "Unimate" to define the product, much the same as George Eastman had coined Kodak.[7]

U.S. Patent 2,988,237, issued in 1961 to Devol

Devol wrote that his invention "makes available for the first time a more or less general purpose machine that has universal application to a vast diversity of applications where cyclic digital control is desired."[5]

After applying for this patent Devol searched for a company willing to give him financial backing to develop his programmable articles transfer system. He talked with many major corporations in the United States during his search. Through family connections, Devol obtained an audience with a partner in the firm Manning, Maxwell and Moore in Stratford, Connecticut. Joseph F. Engelberger, chief of engineering in the company's aircraft products division was very interested, and Devol agreed to license his patent and some future patents in the field to the company.[8] But the company was sold that year and its aircraft division was slated to be closed. Engelberger sought a backer to buy out the aircraft division and found one in Consolidated Diesel Electronic (Condec), which agreed to finance the continued development of the robot under a new division, Unimation Incorporated, with Engelberger as its president.[9]

The first Unimate prototypes were controlled by vacuum tubes used as digital switches though later versions used transistors. Most off-the-shelf components available in the late 1950s, such as digital encoders, were inadequate for the Unimate. With Devol's guidance, a team of engineers at Unimation designed and machined practically every part in the first Unimates.

In 1960, Devol personally sold the first Unimate robot, which was shipped in 1961 to General Motors.[10] GM first used the machine for die casting handling and spot welding.[11] The first Unimate robot was installed at GM's Inland Fisher Guide Plant in Ewing Township, New Jersey, in 1961 to lift hot pieces of metal from a die-casting machine and stack them.[12] Soon companies such as Chrysler, Ford, and Fiat saw the necessity for large Unimate purchases.

The company spent about $5 million to develop the first Unimate.[citation needed] In 1966, after many years of market surveys and field tests, full-scale production began in Connecticut. Unimation's first production robot was a materials handling robot and was soon followed by robots for welding and other applications.

In 1975, Unimation showed its first profit. In 1978, the PUMA (Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly) robot was developed by Unimation from Vicarm (Victor Scheinman) and with support from General Motors.

In 2005, Popular Mechanics magazine selected Devol's Unimate as one of the Top 50 Inventions of the Past 50 Years.[13]

Additional work

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Death

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Devol died on August 11, 2011, aged 99, at his home in Wilton, Connecticut. He was survived by two daughters, two sons, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His funeral service was held in a Methodist church and he was laid to rest in Wilton.[16][17]

References

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George Devol

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from Grokipedia
George Charles Devol Jr. (February 20, 1912 – August 11, 2011) was an American inventor and entrepreneur renowned for creating the first programmable , Unimate, which transformed modern manufacturing by automating repetitive tasks in factories worldwide. Born in , Devol was largely self-taught in , having experimented with and from a young age without formal higher education in the field. Devol's early career spanned diverse innovations, including founding United Cinephone Corporation in 1932 to develop sound systems for films and contributing to radar technology at Sperry Gyroscope Company during World War II. In the early 1950s, inspired by science fiction, he conceived a mechanical arm capable of storing digital commands for precise movements, leading to his filing of U.S. Patent No. 2,988,237 on December 10, 1954, titled "Programmed Article Transfer," which described the foundational principles of what became known as Unimation or universal automation. The patent was granted on June 13, 1961, and detailed a reprogrammable device with magnetic drum memory to handle materials autonomously. Collaborating with engineer Joseph F. Engelberger, Devol co-founded Unimation Inc. in 1956 to commercialize the invention, resulting in the first robot installation at a die-casting plant in , in 1961, where it performed tasks like stacking hot metal parts. Over his lifetime, Devol amassed more than 40 patents, including early developments in bar coding, digital magnetic recording, and an mechanism called the "Phantom Doorman" in the . He died of a heart ailment at his home in , at the age of 99, leaving a legacy as the father of industrial robotics, with models now preserved in institutions like the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Early Life

Upbringing and Family Background

George Charles Devol Jr. was born on February 20, 1912, in Louisville, , to George Charles Devol Sr. and Elsa Jane Vance Devol. His father served as a traffic manager for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, a position that afforded the family an upper-middle-class lifestyle and likely introduced young George to the intricacies of mechanical operations and transportation systems through the bustling railroad environment. Devol grew up in Louisville during his formative years, where his early environment nurtured a keen interest in ; from boyhood, he displayed curiosity toward electrical and mechanical pursuits, tinkering with devices such as boats, airplanes, and engines that sparked his enduring inventive mindset.

Education and Early Interests

George Devol attended Riordan Preparatory School in , where he gained hands-on experience by assisting in the operation of the school's electric light plant, fostering his initial exposure to practical mechanics and electricity. He did not pursue higher education, forgoing college after completing high school amid the economic hardships of the , which prompted many young people, including Devol, to enter the directly to support themselves and their families. Devol's formal schooling was limited, but he developed a strong foundation in through self-directed learning, voraciously reading technical materials and experimenting independently with basic circuits and components. As a teenager, he demonstrated precocious talent by tinkering with simple electrical gadgets, such as rudimentary devices involving vacuum tubes and photocells, which reflected his innate and aptitude for long before any professional endeavors. This self-taught approach allowed Devol to build practical skills that shaped his lifelong passion for mechanical innovation.

Early Career

United Cinephone Venture

In 1932, George Devol founded United Cinephone Corporation as his first major business venture, aiming to capitalize on the rapid transition from silent films to sound motion pictures, known as "talkies." The company specialized in developing variable area recording systems that imprinted audio tracks directly onto film strips, enabling more precise synchronization between sound and visuals compared to earlier methods. This innovation addressed key technical hurdles in the early 1930s film industry, where studios sought reliable, integrated solutions for adding dialogue, music, and effects to movies. Devol's approach drew on his self-taught expertise in , incorporating vacuum tubes and photocells to enhance and recording efficiency. United Cinephone's operations were modest, focusing on prototyping and producing specialized recording equipment in a small-scale setup, though detailed financial records from the period remain limited. The venture represented Devol's entrepreneurial entry into a booming sector and operated until 1943 amid the intense commercialization of sound technology. The company encountered formidable challenges from dominant industry players, including RCA and , whose established systems like and Movietone quickly captured market share from major studios. Lacking the resources to compete effectively, United Cinephone struggled to secure contracts or investment.

Pre-War Inventions

In the late 1930s, as the emerged from the through initiatives and industrial revitalization, George Devol directed his inventive efforts toward technologies that promised to boost efficiency in labor-intensive sectors like and services. His work during this period, influenced by his earlier experience with United Cinephone, emphasized practical mechanisms to reduce manual intervention and enhance safety in everyday operations. One of Devol's key pre-war contributions was his 1939 for proximity controls in presses, which utilized a field to detect an operator's hand position without requiring physical contact with buttons. This innovation, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 2,395,780 titled "Capacity Controlled Textile Press," allowed for safer, automatic activation of power-operated presses in commercial , preventing injuries from two-hand controls and streamlining workflows amid rising demand for efficient textile processing. By enabling hands-free operation, the system addressed common hazards in the industry while supporting broader economic recovery efforts to modernize production. Devol also pioneered concepts for a photoelectric bar code reader, an early precursor to automated sorting systems that used light-sensitive cells to detect patterns on packages for identification and routing. This rudimentary technology aimed to automate and distribution tasks, reflecting Devol's growing interest in optical controls for industrial efficiency during a time when manual sorting burdened recovering supply chains. Around the same period, Devol developed and patented automatic door mechanisms, employing photoelectric switches to trigger opening upon interruption of a light beam across an entrance. Filed in 1937 and granted as U.S. Patent No. 2,243,310 in 1941 under the title "Electronic Control for Doors and Other Machines," this invention—later commercialized as the "Phantom Doorman" by Yale & Towne—facilitated contactless entry in public and industrial settings, reducing physical effort and germ transmission while aligning with efficiency drives in service-oriented businesses.

World War II and Post-War Transition

Military Contributions

In the early , George Devol joined the Sperry Gyroscope Company, drawing on his pre-war inventive experience to advance technologies critical to the . Retained by the firm after pitching innovative ideas in development, Devol focused his efforts on enhancing electronic systems for use. As manager of the Special Projects Department at Sperry Gyroscope, Devol led the development of devices and test equipment tailored for guidance and detection in combat scenarios. These systems supported precise and target identification, vital for Allied operations. His team's work integrated advanced components to improve and reliability under battlefield conditions.

Formation of General Electronics Industries

In 1943, during the height of , George Devol organized General Electronics Industries in , as a subsidiary of the , as a means to apply his expertise in to the war effort. The company specialized in the production of countermeasure devices, including jamming technologies that overwhelmed enemy signals with noise and deception systems that created false echoes to mislead detection. These innovations built on Devol's prior experience with systems at Sperry and were supplied to the U.S. and Army Air Forces to protect Allied aircraft and ships from Axis -guided threats. Following the war's end in , General Electronics Industries shifted focus toward adapting its wartime technologies for peacetime applications, emphasizing electronic control systems for industrial and civilian uses. Devol, leveraging the company's resources, applied for U.S. 2,590,091 on April 3, 1946, describing a magnetic recording system that stored command sequences on a magnetized track or tape to automatically control machinery operations. This introduced the of programmed control through digital-like playback of stored instructions, marking an early step in by enabling machines to replicate precise sequences without continuous human input. The company's transition exemplified the broader conversion of military electronics to commercial sectors, where radar-derived and techniques informed nascent ideas, laying groundwork for programmable industrial equipment in the post-war economy.

Development of Industrial Robotics

Invention of Unimate

In the early , George Devol conceived the idea for a programmable , building on his prior work in magnetic recording technologies to enable automated in industrial settings. This vision culminated in his filing of U.S. Patent Application No. 474,574 on December 10, 1954, titled "Programmed Article Transfer," which described an autonomous machine capable of transferring articles through a sequence of programmed motions. The patent outlined a designed to perform repetitive tasks with precision, marking a foundational advancement in industrial . The patented design featured a with five , allowing for complex movements including rotation, extension, and pivoting to mimic human-like manipulation. It employed hydraulic actuators for powering the arm's motions, such as a telescopic horizontal extension and vertical elevation, ensuring robust operation in demanding environments. The end-effector consisted of a gripping mechanism capable of seizing and releasing objects, integrated with the arm to handle various articles securely. Central to the system's programmability was a magnetic unit that stored digital command codes for step-by-step instructions, including position data and operational sequences, which the machine would replay to execute tasks autonomously. As described in the , "the program drum will contain control indicia for the whole sequence of motions involved in transferring the whole supply of the articles from the ." Development progressed through the late , with Devol refining prototypes to demonstrate practical utility, though the remained pending until its issuance on June 13, 1961, as U.S. No. 2,988,237. Initial testing focused on industrial applications, such as retrieving and stacking hot die-cast metal pieces from machinery, where the robot's hydraulic system and programmed controls proved effective for hazardous, repetitive handling without human intervention. These prototypes utilized custom components, including controls in early versions, to validate the design's reliability in real-world factory conditions. The invention's emphasis on digital storage and hydraulic precision laid the groundwork for scalable robotic systems, transforming Devol's concept from theoretical to a viable solution.

Partnership and Commercialization

In the late 1950s, George Devol partnered with , an engineer and enthusiast, to commercialize his invention of the programmable . The two met in 1956 at a and quickly recognized the potential for Devol's 1954 patent to revolutionize manufacturing automation. Engelberger, who had experience in control systems at a missile manufacturer, provided the technical and business expertise to bring the concept to market, while Devol focused on the core design. This collaboration led to the formation of Inc. in 1956, the world's first company, initially financed by the Condec Corporation, which acquired Devol's patent rights in 1961. The breakthrough came in 1960 when Devol personally sold the first unit to for $18,000—well below its $65,000 production cost—to address labor-intensive tasks in die-casting. Installed in 1961 at GM's Inland Fisher Guide plant in , the handled unloading hot metal parts from die-casting machines and performing spot-welding, marking the debut of industrial robotics on an . The name "Unimate," a blend of "universal" and "automation," was suggested by Devol's wife, Evelyn, to encapsulate the device's versatile, automated nature. Early adoption faced significant hurdles, including resistance from labor unions concerned about job displacement, though proponents argued it alleviated dangerous work for humans. By 1966, had achieved full-scale production, expanding from its initial automotive applications at GM to broader uses in , assembly, and materials handling across sectors. The company's growth prompted international licensing deals, such as with Kawasaki in in 1968, solidifying Unimate's role in sparking the global industry despite ongoing skepticism from workers and managers.

Additional Inventions

Microwave Oven Technology

Following , George Devol applied his experience with technology to explore applications for consumer appliances, contributing to the creation of the Speedy Weeny, a pioneering introduced in 1947. This device represented one of the earliest commercial implementations of heating for food preparation, automatically cooking and dispensing hot dogs upon coin insertion. Devol's involvement stemmed from the surplus of magnetron technology—originally developed for wartime systems—which generated high-frequency electromagnetic waves capable of rapidly heating food by agitating water molecules. Devol's work on the machine, developed through his company General Electronics Industries, demonstrated the feasibility of microwave technology beyond industrial or laboratory settings. Early commercialization efforts for the Speedy Weeny included installations in high-traffic locations like Grand Central Station in New York, where it offered fresh hot dogs to commuters, highlighting the potential for automated, quick-service food preparation. Although specific licensing details for Devol's microwave innovations are limited, the Speedy Weeny's success paralleled and influenced broader adoption, such as Raytheon's contemporaneous Radarange, the first commercial also launched in 1947 for restaurant use. This occurred amid the post-war boom, where demobilized wartime technologies fueled a surge in household and commercial appliances, transitioning radar components into everyday conveniences.

High-Speed Printing Systems

In the 1950s, George Devol extended his expertise in to high-speed systems, developing mechanisms that leveraged programmed magnetic controls for precise, rapid output in business and applications. His innovations addressed limitations in traditional mechanical by enabling to characters, allowing simultaneous printing across multiple positions without sequential constraints. This approach significantly improved efficiency over manual or electromechanical methods, which were prone to wear and slower speeds. Devol's key patents included US2811102A for "Random Printing Means," filed in 1951 and granted in 1957, which described a system using magnetic tape to store character data as spots sensed by a pick-up head, actuating movable type members via electronic circuits and amplifiers for non-linear printing sequences. Complementing this, US2811101A for a "Magneto-Strictive Type Printing Device," also filed in 1951 and granted in 1957, incorporated magnetostriction principles to drive printing units with coils and chambers that solidified ink droplets for precise character formation, minimizing mechanical friction. Additionally, US2918864A for "Random Printing Method and Means," filed in 1951 and granted in 1959, outlined automated typesetting through a single set of type elements actuated randomly by air pressure, vacuum, or electromagnetic means, with oblique sensing of magnetic signals ensuring accurate positioning. These patents featured ink distribution mechanisms, such as ribbon feeds and pulsed solidification, that automated the transfer of ink to the printing medium. These systems found applications in for justified line composition and in for high-volume from perforated tapes or cards, reducing production times and errors compared to manual . Devol integrated concepts from his earlier magnetic recording work, such as signal storage and playback from patents like US2590091, to enable programmed control that synchronized with actions, laying groundwork for automated precision in output devices.

Later Life and Legacy

Personal Life and Death

George Devol married Evelyn Jahelka in 1938, and the couple remained together for 65 years until her death in 2003. Evelyn occasionally contributed to her husband's inventive pursuits, including suggesting the name "" for his pioneering , drawing inspiration from how coined "." The Devols had two daughters, Christine Wardlow of , and Suzanne Judkins of , and two sons, George C. Devol III of , and Robert Devol of . At the time of his death, Devol was also survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Devol spent his later years in , where he had resided for decades. He died on August 11, 2011, at his home there at the age of 99, from a heart ailment.

Awards and Recognition

George Devol received numerous accolades for his pioneering contributions to industrial , beginning with the 1982 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award for Technology, presented by the Robotic Industries Association (now the Association for Advancing Automation) in recognition of his foundational work on programmable robotic systems. In 1985, he was elected as an honorary member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (now SME), honoring his impact on . Devol was further recognized with an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the in 1989, acknowledging his innovations in . Devol's invention of the , the first , garnered additional honors, including its selection by as one of the Top 50 Inventions of the past 50 years in 2005, highlighting its transformative role in factory efficiency and safety. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997 during a ceremony where he received an award for advancing the field of automation. His lifetime achievements culminated in induction into the in 2011, where he was celebrated for patenting the first digitally operated programmable robotic arm (U.S. Patent No. 2,988,237), which revolutionized by enabling precise, repeatable tasks in hazardous environments. Devol's work laid the groundwork for modern industrial automation, influencing subsequent developments such as the PUMA () robot introduced in 1978 by , which extended his programmable arm concepts to more versatile assembly applications and spurred widespread adoption in automotive and electronics industries. His innovations continue to underpin contemporary ; as of 2024, the total operational stock of industrial robots worldwide reached 4.66 million units, enhancing productivity while reducing human exposure to repetitive or dangerous labor.

References

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  2. https://www.invent.org/blog/inventors/George-Devol-Industrial-Robot
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